INSULATION
INNOVATION DRIVES INSULATION SECTOR
Manufacturers must continue to be the mothers and fathers of invention, says Paul Simpson, Commercial Director at Recticel Insulation.
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nnovation is essential to progress. Without it, time would stand still and sectors such as construction would remain tied to the same antiquated processes. Sustainable innovation is one of the primary drivers of all Recticel’s research and development efforts. It is a deciding factor in everything we do, as we look to continually reduce the negative impact of our activities and optimise our positive impact throughout the value chain. This is achieved through the work of the Sustainable Innovation Department (SID), which leads all the Group’s innovations and initiated the corporate sustainability programme. It has led to our development of ‘low lambda’ insulation PIR solutions materials which in 2019, we
estimated prevented CO2 emissions 40 times greater than our carbon impact throughout the value chain.
Our innovative insulation solutions have been specifically designed to save energy. Recticel’s Eurowall+, for example, provides an excellent example of how technical ingenuity can transform a PIR panel’s all- round capability. The board has a precision cut tongue and groove joint on all four sides, enabling them to slot together easily and provide insulation that is solid and minimises heat loss caused by thermal bridging. The clear 10mm cavity space not only makes for a more rapid, comfortable fit for bricklayers, it ultimately reduces the amount of material required to insulate a building to industry standard. This is of significant benefit for builders looking to optimise available development space.
Innovation also played a winning hand in the development of Deck-VQ® , an ultra- thin vacuum insulation panel (VIP). Whilst there are many vacuum-packed insulation systems on the market, Deck-VQ® is a VIP in a fully-encapsulated PIR protective shell, earning its unique status amongst its peers. This innovation safeguards its superior thermal
BUILDING INSULATION MARKET SET TO BOUNCE BACK FROM COVID-19 BY 2022
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he building market for insulation products is estimated to have fallen by around 16% to £1.4bn, mainly due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on newbuild and domestic retrofit activity. Key market influences include changes to building regulations and energy prices. The Building Regulations Part L 2013 were updated with an aim of reducing carbon emissions by a further 6% on top of the 2010 standard for new domestic buildings, and by 9% for new non-residential buildings. Government subsidy schemes also drive growth in the domestic market.
Industrial energy costs have increased sharply since 2016 (although coal and gas prices fell in
2019), and in the longer-term are forecast to rise further, which is likely to result in higher end- product prices for insulation products. This is likely to be compounded by the ongoing weakness of Sterling, leading to increased import prices for many materials.
In 2015 the market for building insulation products experienced a downturn, driven by a significant fall in government-subsidies, which had previously been a large end use sector. This reduced funding to deliver the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) resulted in far lower levels of domestic installation activity compared to under previous government initiatives. Despite the decline of the retrofit market, the overall market
credentials – it has a lambda value of the core of 0.006 W/mK – to ensure its billing as the ideal insulation panel in flat roof or terraced areas subjected to minimal build-up depths. Deck-VQ® can be integrated as part of a tapered roof insulation system designed and manufactured off-site by Recticel’s tapered roof insulation division, Gradient. The modular process is an innovation in itself, allowing key building elements to be constructed within factory-controlled conditions before being transported to site. This turnkey approach to a building’s design and manufacture is not only time and cost-effective, it improves accuracy and results in a better-quality build which meets the client’s precise requirements. Deck-VQ® and Eurowall+ are proof of how innovation remains core to Recticel’s culture. We realise its value in achieving our ultimate aim: sustainably-built properties which are as agreeable to the environment as they are the occupant. For us, the quest for greater energy conservation in the way we work and the products we produce is a journey without end. BMJ
increased year on year from 2016 to 2019 through strong demand in new housebuilding, a growing market for home extensions and a strong non-residential new build sector, particularly in 2017, which saw the total market value increase by around 6%. Growth continued in 2018 and 2019 as non-residential construction output and housebuilding levels continued to rise, despite a slowdown in some sectors, such as offices and retail, taking market value to around £1.7 billion. Alex Blagden, Senior Market Analyst at AMA Research says: “The market is likely to decline by a further 3% in 2021, but will recover from 2022 onwards, with growth rates of around 4-6% per annum through to 2024”.
This recovery is likely to be driven by strong demand for new housing, recovering levels of non-residential new work and the prospect of an improved retrofitting market through increased ECO funding from 2022. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2021
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